I'm a Lumberjack . . .

. . . and I'm ok.

Chop. Chop. Stayc keeps a huge stash of firewood behind the garage in the backyard, where he periodically goes to chop it . . . more and more with Phx. The other day I just let Phx go out there by himself to "play." He needed to get out of the house so badly. When he finally came back in, he had a bruise on his temple accompanied by a couple of scrapes and scratches. Probably climbed the huge wood pile and then fell off??? I'm such a bad mom. You don't need to comment on it. I already know it. (Oh, but the half hour of relative peace while he was outside . . . )

Vacuuming

We start the work early in our family. Believe it or not, she *asked* to vacuum. It doesn't look like much fun until . . .

. . . you start vacuuming PEOPLE!!

"Noooooooo. Don't vacuum me up!"

Then . . . and Now

I've been flipping through old photos of the kidlets and been amazed at how much they change . . . and how much they don't. Look at those cheeks.

They just never went away.

Winter Fun

When, oh when, will this winter be over?? We are sooooooo ready for some warm weather and, more importantly, long periods of outside play. Instead, we've just made our "formal dining room" into one big playroom.

Phoenix's pants are falling off. Lu's just not wearing any (those are tights).

The view from where I sit. Hey. As long as they're entertained.

Mom, Is Quiet Time Over Yet?

That's what I hear every day . . . way before quiet time is really over. And this is the face I see peeking into the office.

Heard around the house today:

"Grandma DuBravac loves everyone!" (While looking at pictures of Kara and Jared with Grandma. We're trying to get the kids to remember all their cousins before they see them.)

"Scott is funny. Sometimes he can be very silly. Mom, is Scott the one who taught you how to be silly?"

Love . . . or Candy

"What *is* the true meaning of Valentine's Day?"

Lu got to wear her Valentine's dress on party day at her preschool. (Lucky Phx got to go too since I was in charge of planning it.) All the little girls were dressed to impress in their V-day outfits, but Lutece got an exceptional amount of comments (probably the hair clips were the extra ooomph that made the outfit).

Not the greatest photo, but at least you get the idea. She was like a little hot pink bomb that exploded. Hot pink from head to toe (including shoes).

Candy over love. Definitely. Stayc came downstairs after dinner and found Phx like this. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

Oh. Was that yesterday? Sorry we're a day late. We still wish you HAD a happy Valentine's Day. Anyway, we made these cupcakes the day BEFORE Valentine's Day. Crummy winter light.

Can you tell which ones Lutece iced?

You're not crazy, Mom

Conversation with a daughter, who found me on my hands and knees cleaning the wood floor in the entryway with a paper towel after everyone from our preschool co-op had left today:

Daughter: What are you doing Mom?
Mom: Wiping the wet footprints off the floor.

Pause.

Mom: Do you think I'm a little crazy?
Daughter: I don't think you're crazy Mom. I think you're smart. That way the dirt won't get tracked into the other parts of the house.

Oh. My. Gosh. I am so lucky to have such a daughter as this. Just when you think you're ruining your child with all of your craziness, she makes you feel like maybe you're not totally crazy. Or maybe, just that she understands your craziness . . . and loves you anyway.

(Oh, and the picture is just a gimme.)

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Still recovering from last week's sickness. I mean, Stayc is still recovering. The kids are fine. They started sleeping through the night when I got home from Boston (poor Stayc). Yep. Tornadoes raged through town and they slept right through it.

Caught in the act . . . of reading a book.

When I started taking pictures, Phoenix decided it was time to hide.

But I can usually get something out of Lu.